Apple is rumored to be working on a smart home security camera that does not record video footage. The device is expected to be part of a broader smart home hub the company plans to introduce next month. According to Mark Gurman, who discussed the product on the first episode of his Power On podcast, the camera will be integrated into what he described as "a new Apple smart home ecosystem," alongside a forthcoming smart home display known internally as the J490.

Gurman explained that the camera takes the form of a small cylindrical sensor, roughly the size of a chapstick, and operates at a very low frame rate. Rather than capturing visual data, it uses artificial intelligence to analyze activity within and around a home. The system is designed to process information entirely on-device, avoiding the need to store or transmit images. This approach mirrors technology Apple is reportedly exploring for a pair of AirPods with built-in cameras that were leaked earlier in the year.

Instead of relying on radar or mmWave sensors for presence detection, the camera would employ an image sensor paired with on-device AI processing, similar to components used in Sony IMX500 sensors. Apple’s current HomeKit Secure Video feature already implements a comparable concept by halting video streaming and recording when motion is detected, while still tracking movement.

Gurman noted that the device would include facial recognition capabilities to identify when individuals enter a room, but emphasized that no visual recordings would be stored. "You’re not getting anything but text descriptions," he said. "There’s nothing you can do with it. There’s no video recording."

The development reflects Apple’s continued focus on privacy-centric smart home technology, aiming to offer security features without compromising user data through traditional video surveillance.